276 PR.ECOCIAL GRALLATOEES — LIMICOLJE. 



met with this bird in considerable numbers as far north as latitude 71° 54' ; and at 

 Fort York he has known it to be shot as late as the latter part of October. At this 

 time it is in its greatest perfection, and is said to be delicious eating. 



It is not noted in the ninth volume of the " Pacific Eailroad Eepiort " as occurring 

 west of the Missouri, yet Mr. J. A. Allen found it in considerable numbers about the 

 lagoons of Eastern Kansas in the earlier part of May, and afterward in August ; he 

 also saw it at Lake Pass, in Colorado, and a few were found in September in the 

 Valley of Great Salt Lake. It was not noticed by Mr. Ridgway in Utah or Xevada ; 

 but it has been found very abundant in August and September throughout Dakota 

 and Montana, where it was invariably seen associating with the melanoleum. Both 

 species are there the most unsuspecting of the Waders, so that they may be approached 

 without the slightest difficulty. Mr. L. Belding, in the winter of 1878-1879, procured 

 a specimen on the coast of California. 



In the Valley of the Mississippi this species is a regular migrant both in the 

 spring and in the fall. It is much more abundant in its autumnal movement, and 

 much more common, than the mehmoleuca, coming later and departing earlier than that 

 species. None n-maiu to breed near Lake Koskonong, where, in the fall, they again 

 become very abundant. 



It was met with at Fort Eesolution from Ma}' 5th to the 14th, in I860, by Mr. E. 

 Kennicott ; on the Yukon Eiver, in June, by Mr. Lockhart ; at Fort Simpson, from 

 May 15th to the 29th, by Mr. B. E, Eoss ; at Big Island by Mr. Eeid ; and was found 

 in great abundance by Mr. MacFarlane at Fort Anderson, on Anderson Eiver, at 

 Horton Eiver, Eendezvous Lake, etc. 



On tlie Atlantic coast it begins to appear, in its migrations southward, in July, 

 and its movements continue through August. It returns in the sjaring, but comes as 

 late as May 15. In Massachusetts Mr. William Brewster has taken it from July 15 

 to September 1, and has noted its x^assing north occasionally as early as the first jjart 

 of May. A large flock was observed by M\\ Frank B. Tileston near Boston, May 

 3, 1875. It is quite common near Calais in both these migrations. 



On Long Island, according to Giraud, and also on the coast of New Jersey, thi.s 

 species arrives in the early part of May. It is said to associate in flocks, and to fre- 

 quent the muddy flats which are left bare at the recess of the tide. At high water it 

 resorts to the ponds on the beaches and jueadows, where it collects its food, which 

 consists of small shellfish, worms, and insects. Occasionally it may be seen wading 

 into the shallow water in pursuit of small fishes. It is conspicuously gregarious in 

 habit, and is constantly calling upon others to unite with it, its shrill cry betraying 

 its presence to the hunter. It is readily attracted by decoys, answering the fowler's 

 whistle, and, if the sportsman is well concealed, gliding directly up to the decoj-s, 

 gradually lowering its long legs, which, when it flies, project beyoucl its tail-feathers. 

 It is much more timid than the Eed-breasted Snipe, yet, like that species, when 

 invited by the hunter's whistle, will not infrequently return and receive his second 

 fire. The cry of this species is very shrill, consisting of three or more notes. When 

 wounded in the wing it will run very fast, and will often conceal itself so successfully 

 in the long grass as to escape detection. It is often seen on streams in the interior. 

 Its flesh is not particularly good, yet it meets with a ready sale in the New York 

 market, and large numbers are shot to supply the demand. Giraud mentions one 

 instance in which one hundred and si.K were killed by the single discharge of a 

 double-barrelled grin into a flock that was sitting along the beach. In the latter part 

 of August the Yellowshank begins to move southward, and in September all have 

 usually retired from the shores of Long Island. 



